Top high school football playoff games: Round 4

Here’s a look at The Tennessean’s top picks for this week’s high school football playoff games, along with predictions from Michael Murphy and Sam Brown:

Murphy’s record last week: 10-0 (1.000)

Murphy’s season record: 111-29 (.792)

GAME OF THE WEEK

CLASS 5A

CENTENNIAL (12-1) AT INDEPENDENCE (12-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Centennial has fared well in rematches so far this postseason, capturing consecutive wins over Brentwood and Henry County after beating both Region 7-5A foes during the regular season. A third straight rematch awaits in Friday's semifinals, though, as Centennial travels to Independence in hopes of avenging its early season loss to the unbeaten Eagles. The Cougars, led by Class 5A Mr. Football Lineman of the Year Tyrel Dodson (103 tackles, 8 sacks), have strung together 11 straight wins since suffering a 49-6 Week 2 defeat, allowing just 10.9 points per game during that stretch. Centennial is well aware of just how dangerous Independence's prolific passing attack is. Eagles quarterback Andrew Bunch (2,407 yards passing, 36 total TDs), coming off a three-score performance in last week’s 28-20 quarterfinal win over Hillsboro, torched the Cougars for 221 yards and five total touchdowns earlier this season.

Murphy’s pick: Independence 35, Centennial 24

Brown’s pick: Independence 40, Centennial 21

CLASS 6A

WHITEHAVEN (12-1) AT RAVENWOOD (12-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Ravenwood’s offense has been on point this postseason, averaging 48.3 points en route to lopsided wins over Bartlett, Overton and White Station. Senior quarterback Andrew Rappe threw for 206 yards and ran for 122 more a week ago against White Station, accounting for four touchdowns in his team’s 55-35 quarterfinal victory. The visiting Spartans did, however, exploit some holes in the Raptors’ defense, racking up 441 yards — 322 through the air. This week’s opponent, Region 4-6A champion Whitehaven, isn’t quite as pass-happy, but thanks to junior running back Kylan Watkins, the Tigers, making their fifth semifinal appearance since 2010, haven’t had to be. The speedy 5-foot-10, 170-pound Watkins has eight rushing touchdowns this postseason for Whitehaven, which suffered a 24-14 loss to the Raptors in last year's 6A semifinals.

Murphy’s pick: Ravenwood 21, Whitehaven 20

Brown’s pick: Ravenwood 35, Whitehaven 34

CLASS 6A

OAKLAND (12-1) AT MARYVILLE (13-0)

When: Friday, 6 p.m.

Maryville made quick work of last week’s Rutherford County opponent, extending its state-leading win streak to 43 games with a 42-7 quarterfinal win over Blackman behind quarterback Dylan Hopkins’ 248-yard, four-touchdown passing performance. This week the two-time defending champion Rebels welcome Region 3 champion Oakland, which suffered a 26-14 defeat to Maryville in last year’s Class 6A semifinals. The Patriots, who are unbeaten against in-state competition this season, have strung together 12 straight wins since suffering a 24-6 season-opening loss to nationally-ranked Hoover (Ala.). Prior to last week’s quarterfinal win over Smyrna, Oakland had held four straight opponents to single digits, but needed overtime to get past the Bulldogs before escaping 21-14. Now the Patriots will look to be the first Rutherford County team to take down Maryville since Smyrna did during the 1996 regular season.

Murphy’s pick: Maryville 27, Oakland 14

Brown’s pick: Maryville 30, Oakland 21

CLASS 4A

MEMPHIS EAST (12-1) AT PEARL-COHN (9-4)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Pearl-Cohn, making its second straight Class 4A semifinal appearance and fourth of coach Tony Brunetti’s tenure, haven’t reached the state final since winning back-to-back titles in 1996 and 1997. The Firebirds don’t possess quite the same kind of offensive firepower that last year’s Ke’Shawn Vaughn-led squad did, but they’ve been pretty efficient in the playoffs. Led by a 2,500-yard passer (Jimmy Ferrell), a 1,000-yard rusher (Ke’Juan Vaughn) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Rontavius Groves), Pearl-Cohn’s balanced attack has piled up a combined 101 points in wins over Montgomery Central, Lipscomb and Springfield. Memphis East has strung together 12 straight wins since suffering a 31-14 season-opening defeat to Muscle Shoals (Ala.) — the same squad that coasted to a 49-20 Week 6 win over Pearl-Cohn — and the Mustangs appear every bit athletic enough match the Firebirds stride for stride.

Murphy’s pick: Memphis East 28, Pearl-Cohn 27

Brown’s pick: Memphis East 28, Pearl-Cohn 21

The Tennessean Midstate Top 10

CLASS 4A

MARSHALL CO. (12-1) AT KNOXVILLE CATHOLIC (9-4)

When: Friday, 6 p.m.

After dropping four of its first six regular-season contests, Knoxville Catholic has won seven in a row. Since a 38-14 Week 6 setback to Belfry (Ky.), the Fighting Irish, led by Mr. Football finalist and USC commitment Amari Rodgers, have been among the hottest teams in the state, closing out the regular season with four consecutive lopsided wins before upsetting Fulton and Greeneville en route to their second semifinal appearance in three

seasons. Marshall County hasn’t reached the final four since 1984 — the same year the school won its only state championship. The Tigers, led by Mr. Football finalist Ashton Posey, are averaging more than 40 points, though they were limited to a season-low 17 in last week’s quarterfinal win over East Hamilton. Posey, the Midstate’s leading passer with 2,837 yards and 27 touchdowns, has thrown for 5,381 yards and 49 scores in his two seasons as a starter.

Murphy’s pick: Knoxville Catholic 42, Marshall County 41

Brown’s pick: Marshall County 21, Knoxville Catholic 20

CLASS 3A

LIBERTY MAGNET (13-0) AT CPA (12-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Points should be at a premium in this Class 3A semifinal between defending champion Christ Presbyterian Academy and unbeaten Liberty Tech. The Lions, led by two-way standout Chip Omer (1,251 yards rushing, 11 TDs), surrendered 21 points in last week’s win over White House-Heritage, but not before building a 41-0 lead through three quarters. Prior to that, CPA hadn’t allowed an opponent to reach the 20-point mark since its Sept. 25 loss at Ensworth. The visiting Crusaders have surrendered a combined 13 points in their last six outings, including playoff wins over Raleigh Egypt, Melrose and Milan by a combined score of 100-7. Milan’s first-quarter touchdown in last week’s quarterfinal loss was the first score given up by Liberty since its Oct. 30 regular-season finale.

Murphy’s pick: CPA 21, Liberty 20

Brown’s pick: CPA 28, Liberty 24

CLASS 1A

COLUMBIA ACADEMY (12-1) AT GREENBACK (11-2)

When: Friday, 6 p.m.

Neither of these Class 1A semifinalists has had trouble scoring points. Columbia Academy, led by senior Mr. Football semifinalists Taylor Thompson (1,376 yards receiving, 34 total TDs) and Thomas Garrison (1,379 all-purpose yards, 22 total TDs), has eclipsed the 50-point mark five times, including in playoff wins over Whitwell and South Pittsburg. Greenback doesn’t possess quite the same kind of offensive firepower, but the Cherokees are coming off their best performance of the season — a 56-28 throttling of Harriman behind a combined six touchdowns from juniors Hunter Willis and Kayne Roberts. Defensive stops should be a premium, so whichever squad takes better care of the football will have the upper hand.

Murphy’s pick: Columbia Academy 44, Greenback 31

Brown’s pick: Columbia Academy 38, Greenback 28

CLASS 1A

PEABODY (12-1) AT NASHVILLE CHRISTIAN (12-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Nashville Christian advanced its third straight semifinal appearance with last week’s 34-21 triumph over Wayne County, forcing three turnovers while limiting a prolific Wildcats offense to a season-low 21 points. However two Eagle turnovers, coupled with the team’s 14 penalties for 110 yards, kept things close throughout. NCS will need to clean up those issues if it hopes to secure its first championship appearance. Defending Class 2A champion Peabody, just two weeks removed from snapping powerhouse Union City’s 38-game winning streak, also avenged its other regular-season loss a week ago, rolling to a 35-14 rout of Dresden behind quarterback Kendrick Malone’s three-touchdown passing performance.

Murphy’s pick: Peabody 28, Nashville Christian 27

Brown’s pick: Nashville Christian 24, Peabody 14

MURPHY BROWN'S PREP TIME: WEEK 15

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.